Sunday 6 November 2016

Pangolin

  • Also known as the scaly anteater, the pangolin uses its sharp claws to raid ant and termite nests at night. 
  • When threatened, it will curl into a tight ball of scales. Its scales are actually hair that is fused into scales that cover the entire body of the pangolin except its soft underbelly. 
  • A young pangolin will ride on the base of its mother’s tail 
  • Surprisingly arboreal, will spend the day sleeping in tree hollows 
  • This specimen was a road kill – note the scales on the side that show the scars of the accident
  •  The pangolin is one of the few large mammals that still exists in Singapore 
  • They are difficult to maintain in captivity due to their specialised diet of ants and termites. 
  • Our keepers formulated an artificial diet for the pangolins which is working well. 
  • Secret formula is the use of termite mound soil to add in the ‘termite flavour’. 
  • WRS also supports conservation projects on pangolins, to find out more about their natural behaviour, preferred diet and habitat. 
  • CONSERVATION MESSAGE: Critically endangered species. Valued for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine. They are also hunted for their meat, which is prized as a delicacy in China and other parts of Asia
Video about Pangolin:

Video about Armadillo:

American visitors seem to be more familiar with this species than our Pangolin. Armadillo has certain features quite similar to our Pangolin- insect diet, hard shell, being a mammal. the 3 banded Armadillo even rolled itself into a ball like Pangolin.


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